Apparatus for casting stereotype plates



May 17, 1949. V c2. s. CRAFTS I 2,470,146

APPARATUS FOR CASTING STEREOTYPE PLATES Filed July 15, 1944 e sheets-she t 1 IN V EN TOR.

' May17, 1949. v c. s. CRAFTS i 2,470,146

APPARATUS FOR CASTING STEREOTYPE PLATES Filed July 15., 1944 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 lnllmliiii IN V EN TOR.

May 17, 19 49. c. s. CRAFTS 5 APPARATUS FORYCASTING STEREOTYPE PLATES Filed qul 15, 1944 v e s eets-sheet 4 IN VEN TOR.

. momvfx May 17, 1949. c. s. CRAIFTS 2,470,145

APPARATUS FOR CASTING STEREOTYPE PLATES Filed Jul 15, 1944 4 e Sheets-Sheet 5 68 i i 60 A e0 61 l l; J L 5 67 an *W 9| |-L 2 5 I. E zrp 17 I V f i 1 "Q A i 1. I I 3 iii Ii: L A J I N VEN TOR.

ay 17, 1949. I c. s. CRAFTS 2,470,146

APPARATUS FOR CASTING STEREOTYPE PLATES Filed July 15, 1944 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR.

Patented May 17, 1 949 2,470,146 APPARATUS FOR CASTING STEREOTYPE PLATE Curtis S. Crafts, Oak Park, Ill., assignor to The Goss Printing Press Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application July 15, 1944, Serial No. 545,065

4 Claims.

This invention relates to apparatus for casting stereotype printing plates and more particularly to such apparatus for casting semi-cylindrical stereotype printing plates.

Objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part hereinafter and in part will be obvious herefrom, or may be learned by practice with the invention, the same being realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations pointed out in the appended claims. I,

The'invention consists in the. novel parts, constructions, arrangements, combinations and improvements herein shown and described.

The accompanying drawings, referred to herein and constituting a part hereof, illustrate embodiments of the invention, and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

Of the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of apparatus embodying the invention, the various parts of the apparatus being in plate casting position;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the apparatus of Figure 1 with parts in section, and in casting position;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary view in plan with parts in section of the apparatus shown in Figure 2 but with the various parts of theapparatus in non-casting position;

Figure 4 is another fragmentary View of the apparatus of Figure 2 showing the various parts in another non-casting position;

Figure 5 is an elevation of the apparatus of Figure 1 with parts in section, as taken on the lines 5-5 of Figure 1;

Figure 6 is an elevation of the apparatus of Figure 1 with parts in section, as taken on lines 66 of Figure 1;

Figure 7 is an elevation of a modified form ofthe apparatus with parts in section being similar to Figure 6, except for these modifications;

Figure 8 is a sectional View of the modified form of apparatus of Figure '7 as taken on lines 8-8 of Figure 7; and,

Figures 9 and 10 are views similar to Figure 8 but showing the apparatus in different relative positions, to illustrate the operation thereof.

It is generally the object of this invention to provide new and improved apparatus for casting stereotype printing plates and more specifically to produce a semi-cylindrical stereotype printing plate which has shaped recesses of predetermined form and arrangement on the inside or concave face of the stereotype plate.

- In the practice of printing particularly from stereotype plates of semi-cylindrical form it is now sometimes desirable to have such recesses on the inside face and particularly such recesses may be in the form of slots adapted to receive hooks arranged conventionally on the supporting cylinder to which the stereotype plate is attached, these hooks serving to hold the stereo-.

type plate in place on the cylinder and forming the usual lock-up tension device.

Accordingly, it is a further object of this invention specifically to produce a semi-cylindrical stereotype printing plate having recesses on the inside or concave face adapted to receive such hooks and so shaped as to cooperate with said hooks to retain the stereotype plate thus cast upon its supporting cylinder.

The invention may beapplied to a conventional form of stereotype casting machine and the machine may operate in its usual manner, either manually or automatically, the only modifications being to part of the apparatus of the machine, these modifications being such they do not interfere with the normal procedure of casting once they have been incorporated in the machine.

The conventional automatic stereotype casting machine to which the invention may be applied may be of the type where a movable carriage carrying the matrix mounted upon a casting member is moved into a casting position relative to a cylindrical casting core, preferably automatically. The metal is poured into a space between the casting member and the casting core, and thereafter the carriage and matrix are automatically backed away and the cylindrical core is rotated to present the cast plate for removal and to present a further casting face of the cylindrical core for cooperation with the matrix as the carriage is moved back automatically into casting position, the tail of the plate being cut off during this rotation. This conventional means of casting stereotype plates continues in a cyclic manner to cast, rotate the cylindrical core for presentation of the cast plate for removal, and cut-off of the tail, and to position the other half of -the cylinder core for the next casting operation, the carriage carrying the casting member and matrix moving inwardly and outwardly with respect to the cylinder, also in a cyclic operation.

In accordance With the present invention the said casting core is modified by the introduction therewithin of a pair of auxiliary core elements each trunnioned within the core and adapted for limited rotational movement. Means are provided to rock said elements to present within the space between the matrix and the core face suitably shaped abutments whereby when molten metal is poured into said gap recesses equivalent to the shape of the abutments will be molded on the inside or concave face of the plate thus cast. It is obvious that the abutments will cause some difficulty of removal of the plate after casting, and this will be particularlyemphasized should each abutment be so shaped as to present pivots after the cast plate has been rotated upon the cylindrical core member to a take ofi position whereby the abutments will be removed from engaging position within the recesses molded within the cast plate. 7

Furthermore, the auxiliary ears elements are preferably provided with two of said abutments spaced on either side of the pivot of each element whereby when one abutment is rocked about the pivot out of engagement with the cast plate the other abutment of the pair will be rocked by said same movement into aii operative position within the gap between the mam-"xand the cylindrical core surface, so that the subsequent plate cast will equally have the abutments castthereon.

abutments either within the space where casting is to take place or remcveitne abutments from the already cast recesses in a plate justformed.

It will be understood that the foregoing general description and the following detailed description-as well are exemplary and explanatory of the invention but are not restrictive thereof.

The abutment each instance may comprise l a single member extending the whole length of the plate or a part er the lens-m thereof as desired or it may com-prise a plurality of smaller sections spaced along the plate, The abutments equally may be formed int members or be as rate therefrom to permit replacement due to ringer for the purpose of supplying a d'i-if'e'r y contoured recess in the inside of the cast te.,

Conventionall y, cylindrical core of the machine may be cooled at least on one side, and in accordance with another testin of this invention, the auxiary "core "lfii'ents may also be cooled by suitable cbimeaons to the main cooling system of the eylmann tare.

Any means of rocking the auxiliary core ele- I ment's about their pivots, for the purpose described, may be employed but inasmuch as it is usual to proviae lmcektrr fingers on the type of stereotype printing pl ate 'cast-in'g machine specifically r'e'fer ed to, which are adapted to force the cast plate away from the core under urge of movement" "'f the carriage into casting position, it is one cine of this invention to modify these k-off fingers whereby prior to carrying but their normal function they will first cause the teenager the auxiliary core members to 'non gaging "position with respect to the cast stereotype p te.

In another specific arm o'f carrying out the invention the rub" "off angers -'mentioned are utilized een nmtnany to "act solely to remove the cast plate when e carriag s moved into casting position and i to rock-the auxiliary core elements about their -1vots,'cam-'fneans are fixedly associated with the core elements and are caused to take iip o'ne' oranothe'r of two positions by fixed "cam followei s preferably in the form of rollers "attachedto a y suitable part of the fixed frame within whichjtlfe cylindrical core of the machinefis retard Preferably the cams are keyed or otherwise fixdl-y associated with the 'trunnions utilized for mounting the axillary core elements within the cylindrical core, and these cams my be double races or have two tracks oneofwhich is adaptedto cooperate with eil'e c'ain rciuowe'r for'instaih on the outsideb'f the path ofr'no'v m e'fit bot the earns, an'dthe otherof'which-face 1s daptatotoope'rate with another cam f 'jllfor example, on'the inside face of both "of the w ereby two cam rollowers in the form bf r eis, for example, can oibratecil'bdth the cams "to cause th'rfl totake up one "of the alternativepiis'itioris possible "for them, to present the core elements "with their ally 'wi th the auxiliary core 0 Referring now specifically to the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings as specificallyshown in Figures 1 to 6 there is provided a main frame I upon which is mounted an upper frame 2;. this frame 2 supporting a concave casting member 3 which is mounted on a carriagesupported by rollers 4 on a trackway 5, formed as another part of the frame 2. Carried by the frames 1 and 2 in fixed position relative thereto but rotati'vely mounted therein is a cylinder 6 whichforms the core upon which a stereotype plate when cast is carried.

As better shown iI'a'Fig'iires 5 and 6, the cylinder 6 is rotatively maimed Within the frame '2 by bearings?! at the lowerena; andat the upper end by bearings 8 and '9. yli nder 6 is adapted to be rotated within its bearings I, 8 and 9 by any desired means ware-n conventionall comprises a Geneva movement (not shown) whereby r'otati'o-n threugli is perrormeain a predetermined cyclic operation to first present one half andthen the other, or the cylindrical core s, to a plate take-air eosinen.

The concave casting member 3ca'rrying the matrix is movedtoward away from the 'cyl-' inder B by suitable sewer means-(not shown) this movement being also part of the predetermined cycle above mentioned. conventionally, when utilizing a eastmgmacnine of the type illustrated and described-the froncave =e'asi'jin'g member 3 is moved forwardly supported by the rollers i on" the 'trackw'ay 5 into operative casting position as illustrated-in the View of Figure 2, whereby a suitable gap I0 is preserved between the con:

means of the rollers "'4 'ontrackway 5, themat IT being carried away from the cast plate by this F movement. Thereafter the cylinder =6 is rotated through a-h'alf'circie to present the finished plate l-Z for =1-einbval from the halflof the :periphery'o'f the cylinder "6 thus exposed. The plate 12, already formed by the. fir st casting operation is knocked off conventionally from its half of the cylinder 6 by =niean's of k nock dif fingers 14 which are carried by the cdnvex co-re member "3 upon an extension plate *litts the casti-ng member 3 approaches "the cylinder 6r-in its inoVments toward casting position.

In one embodiment of the present invention; as illustrated in Figures r li -the location of the knock-off fingers M :and the shape and mounting thereof upon 'the plate, have been modified to perform an additional function as hereinafter brought out, and finger-s44 :-are thus pivotally mounted at ifi'andcan 'moveonl y in one -direc-' tion because a stop iplnl! 'is --ri1oui'i1;etl "on the plate I 5 to abut 'afeaarsit aa extension on It of the fingers M. 'musexeept forthe modification of the fingers 14, the apparatus hereinbefore specifically described is conventional in its actions and in its functions and provides a cyclic method of casting stereotype printing plates.

In another embodiment of the present invention, as specifically illustrated in Figures 7 to 10, the knock-01f fingers l4 are conventionally used solely for removal of the cast plate but movement of the member 3 on its trackway and additional cam operated means are provided for the stated additional function, as hereinafter described.

In accordance with the present invention means are provided for causing a recess or a group of recesses to be molded in each stereotype printing plate cast, as and for the purpose decribed, and as embodied such means are adapted to be carried by the cylinder 6 and in no way alter the performance or operation just'described with respect to the apparatus. To this end there is mounted in the cylinder 6 a pair of auxiliary core elements 2% each element 25 being carried in trunnions 2! within parts of the cylinder 6 whereby the elements may rotate relative to the cylinder 5. In order that the elements 20 may be accommodated within the body of the cylinder 6, it is fashioned with longitudinally arranged recesses, 22, and limit of rotation of the elements 2!] within these recesses 22 is obtained by the associated shape of the operative faces of the elements 20 and of the recesses 22.

Thus, at the extreme or open side of recesses 22 angular faces 23 are arranged and a cooperating face 24 is placed upon each side of the elements 20 whereby, upon rotation of the elements 20 in one direction or the other, the'faces 23 and 24 will contact, and as hereinafter described, will be forced into close sealing oft contact as at Y in Figure 2. When the faces 23 and 24' are in such contact it will be seen that each recess 22 is sealed oil from the space or gap ID on the operative side of the casting cylinder whereas on the inoperative side the faces 23 and 24 will be spaced apart, but with no deleterious effect.

. Auxiliary core elements 20 are adapted to carry on their outwardly exposed faces suitably shaped abutments which are illustrated as hooked shaped members 25 and 26. When the faces 23 and 24 are in contact as at Y in Figure 2, the hook 25 will be projected into the gap [0 into which metal will be poured when the parts are in operative casting position, and accordingly whensuch metal is poured thecast plate will have upon its inside or concave face, recesses corresponding to the shape of the hooks 25, these recesses being preferably suitably arranged at or near the edges of the casting plate. The hooks 25 and 25 may comprise one continuous length in the form of a single abutment on each side ofeach element 20 or, as illustrated, they comprise a plurality of hooked shaped members 25 or 26 longitudinally spaced from'each other and extending substantially for the width of the plate to be cast, this being specifically shown in Figure 1.

The plan view of Figure 2 illustrates clearly the relative position of the various operating parts when ready for the pouring of casting metal into the space of gap l0 and in this position it will be seen that the plate as it will be cast will have the mentioned recesses formed by the hooks 25.

In order to obtain the desired sealing ofi pressure between surfaces 23 and 24 a suitable cam shaped end 28 isarranged on each end of the concave casting member 3, these cams pressing into a .cam follower 29 attached to each element 20 and forcing the elements 20 about their pivots into the operative position shown in Figure 2 at Y. With the parts in the position of Figure 2, the metal is poured in the gap I0 thus forming therein a stereotype printing plate. After the pouring and a period for cooling, as is usual, the concave casting member 3 is withdrawn from the position shown in Figure 2 and the cylinder 6 rotates to present the finished plate for withdrawal as previously described.

It will be obvious that until further action takes place the hooks 25 will stil1 be imbedded within the cast plate, and consequently withdrawal of the finished plate from the exposed half of cylinder 5 will be diificult and, depending upon the contour of the hooks 25, 26 will be impossible in some instances. Furthermore, in this position the hook 26 which is retracted or below the level of the periphery of the cylinder 6, is in an inoperative position to form its recess within the next plate to be cast in the cyclic operation of the machine.

The concave casting member 3 is now moved back toward its operative casting position as shown in Figure 2 and the fingers l4 already described and stated to be primarily the knockoff fingers for removing the cast plate are now adapted in accordance with one embodiment of.

the invention to act upon the elements 20 to simultaneously rotate these into a position where hooks 25 are disengaged from the already cast plate and hooks 2'6 are thrown into an operative position within the gap II] for the next casting. To this end, as shown in Figures 1-6, each of the elements 20 is provided with a plunger 30 mounted to move bodily relative to its element 20 and spring urged outwardly by a spring 3| acting against the retaining collar 32.

As shown in Figures 3 and 4 the fingers 14 are adapted to contact the pins 30 to first cause rotation or rocking of the elements 26. Figure 3 shows a position of a finger l4 as it approaches a pin 30 the hook 25 being still imbedded Within the recess it has formed in the plate 35. direction 0f rnovement which is indicated by arrow A it will be seen that the finger I4 is held in a rigid position by. the pin I! which isv in contact with the extension lb of the finger l4 and thus finger I4 is unyielding. In Figure 4 the arrow B shows the continued movement in the same direction and the finger I4 is now in operative contact With the pin 30 and has rotated the element 20 about its pivot to withdraw hook 25 from the plate 35 and swing hook 25into operative casting position for molding the recess in either side of the member 3.

the next plate to'be cast.

Further movement in the same direction of the concave casting member 3 will cause the finger 14 to contact an edge of the plate 35, which has already been cast, and push it to the dotted-line position shown in Figure 2, so thatto the pins 38 and then with respect to the ends of the cast plate, as plate 35.

Obviously any rotation of the cylindrical core- 6 which may take place while fingers M are in any position whereby they may contact the pins 30 will not cause any co-action between fingers y In the understood from a consideration of the relationship between Figures 9 and 10.

In Figure 9 the rollers are shown in a position where they are inefiective with respect to their associated cams. In this position a plate has just been cast identified as H and the abutments 26 of the elements 28 are imbedded in the plate It as previously. The rotation of cylinder 6 is shown by the arrow C in Figure 9 and as cam approaches the roller 67 its outside face 65 will be contacted thereby and due to the shape of this face 86 the cam 8! now in the position shown in Figure 10 will be depressed progressively by the roller 61 to rock the element 26 about its trunnions 2i and release hooks 28 from the plate H,

Simultaneously, the cam 82 will have contacted the roller 85 on its inside face (5 .1 and due to the shape of this inside face 6 3 the fixed roller 65 will depress the cam 82 thus swinging the element about its trunnions 2i to lift the hooks 26 on this side also out of the recesses in plate I I Thus by this cam and roller action simultaneously operating on the inside face of one cam and the outside face of another cam the hooks 2E3 will be swung out of their recesses in the plate H and the hooks will be thrown into the now empty space between the matrix H and the cylinder 6. Upon subsequent casting the hooks 25 will now be imbedded in the new plate cast and upon the next rotation of the cylinder 8 the cams 8i and 82 will again have their one-sided contact with rollers 55 and 67 to reverse the relative position of hooks 25 and 26 with respect to the cast cylinder. Thus there is provided by this modification a strong and rugged means for positively operating upon the elements 2!) to swing these on their pivots when needed whereby plates even of very large sizes can have the hooks 25 or 26 positively disengaged from the recesses formed thereby on the inside face of the plate.

The shape of the teeth 25 or 28 on the auxiliary core elements 20 and the number of these can be selected to suit the required recess shape within the plate edge, and as illustrated in the drawings the recesses made would form adequate tension lock-up grooves in the plate for holding a cast plate around a printing cylinder by means of suitable teeth or lugs such as are known in the art.

What is claimed is:

1. In a machine for casting semi-circular stereotype printing plates, the combination of a concave casting member adapted to support a matrix, a convex core casting member adapted to be associated therewith to provide a molding space between the concave and convex surfaces of the casting members, auxiliary core elements movably carried by said convex casting member, means for periodically moving said elements into said molding space prior to molding the stereotype plate, whereby to form recesses on the concave face of said plate, and means for periodically removing said elements from the recesses formed thereby, said means for moving the auxilary core elements into the molding space including a cam fixedly associated with each auxiliary core element and moving therewith, and a pair of rollers fixed with respect to the movement of the cams and operating thereon at a predetermined area in the path of the movement of the cams to simultaneously rock the cams and the associated auxiliary core elements between operative and inoperative cast positions.

2. In a machine for casting semi-circular stereotype printing plates, the combination of a concave casting member adapted to support a matrix, a convex core casting member adapted to be associated therewith to provide a molding space between the concave and convex surfaces of the casting members, auxiliary core elements movably carried by said convex casting member, means for periodically moving said elements into said molding space prior to molding the stereotype plate, whereby to form recesses on the concave face of said plate, and means for periodically removing said elements from the recesses formed thereby, said means for moving the auxiliary core elements into the molding space including a cam fixedly associated with each auxiliary core element and moving therewith, and a pair of rollers fixed with respect to the movement of the cams and operating thereon at a predetermined area in the path of movement of the cams to simultaneously rock the cams and the associated auxiliary core elements between operative and inoperative cast positions, said cams being double-faced and being operated upon alternatively by each of said rollers by first one face and then by the other face in cyclic order.

3. In a machine for casting semi-circular stereotype plates, in combination, a concave casting member for supporting a matrix, a convex core member cooperating therewith to provide a molding space between said members, means for rotating said convex core member, a pair of trunnions carried by said convex core member and projecting from one end thereof, double ended hooks operated by said trunnions, a cam carried at the outer end of each trunnion, a fixed head at one end of the machine, and cam operating means carried by said head for operative engagement with the respective cams, whereby said hooks are rocked alternately into and out of said molding space by their respective cams.

4. In a machine for casting semi-circular stereotype plates, in combination, a concave casting member for supporting a matrix, a convex core member cooperating therewith to provide a molding space between said members, means for rotating said convex core member, a pair of trunnions carried by said convex core member and projecting from one end thereof, double ended hooks operated by said trunnions, a cam carried at the outer end of each trunnion, a fixed head at one end of the machine, and cam operating members carried by said head and positioned in the path of movement of said cams, said cam operating members being positioned, respectively, for engagement with the outer and inner edges of said cams, whereby said hooks are rocked alternately into and out of said molding space.

CURTIS S. CRAFTS.

REEERIENQES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,048,657 Egli Dec. 31, 1912 1,623,991 Wood Apr. 12, 1927 1,748,268 Wood Feb. 25, 1930 2,110,154 Huck Mar. 8, 1938 2,173,990 Wood et al Sept. 26, 1939 2,304,785 Durham Dec. 15, 1942 

